(Easy!) Tips To Start the Keto Diet for Beginners

If you?ve been around the internet a while, you know there?s always the next new thing in weight loss and dieting. The current program everyone is trying is the ketogenic diet, aka the keto diet plan. Here are some easy tips to start the keto diet for beginners. It?s really not as complicated or as restrictive as you might think once you?re armed with the keto diet food list and keto diet recipes.

First off- let’s be clear. I’m no doctor or medical professional… or even very good at losing weight.

Ahem.

Always check with your doctor first before you start any big changes in diet or exercise.

(Figure we should make that crystal clear!)

So why am I talking about this?

Because I’m a wife, mom, woman in her 40s who’s battling aging/high blood pressure/blood sugar issues/whacked out thyroid- and losing weight is going to be a positive step in correcting some of these issues.

And I figure someone out there might find themselves nodding along with that description and need a little help trying to start this ketogenic lifestyle.

If you find a little of yourself up there- or just want to know more about this way of eating (WOE in shorthand) then you’ve come to the right place.

Macros are how you track the percentage of each food group you are eating. Kind of like tracking calories, but a bit less invasive. The main things you will be watching for on a keto diet for beginners is your protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake.

The average macros will fit into this range:

60-70% Fats

15-30% Protein

5-10% Carbohydrates

To calculate your macros, the keto calculator is a great place to turn. This gives a great estimation of what you need to get to ketosis which is the goal of this diet plan.

You’ll also want to invest in a tracking app or system.

Overall, the use of My Fitness Pal is the most popular option, but you can also purchase a fitness journal or use a spreadsheet to track your daily intake.

My friend Kimberly just updated a post about her recent success with a loose keto diet plan and tracking via My Fitness Pal. You can read about her experience here.

2. Prepare your pantry for the Keto Diet Plan

Most will say a true ketogenic diet will consist of less than 30 grams of carbohydrates per day.

Gasp. That’s not a lot, guys!

And this includes all things like vegetables and fruits.

Very quickly you will realize that there is a limited list of vegetables that are lower in carbohydrates.

Also, while cheese is popular on the diet, milk by itself is not due to higher sugar and carbohydrate levels.

It isn’t just about dropping cakes and cookies, but changing how you look at food.

Prepare your pantry with high protein foods that are low in carbohydrates.

Keto on the road isn’t as hard as it once was! Found these at a 7/11 on a recent road trip! #NoExcuses

Things like meat, cheese, bacon, eggs, and nuts are always a hit.

Below is a short list of suggestions for your pantry & fridge that fall into the lower carbohydrate rule of the keto diet for beginners.

Patty Holliday

If she isn’t chasing her four kids around Northern Virginia, Patty is chasing four bars on her phone to share her authentic and fun stories on social media and her blog, My No-Guilt Life. She’s also one half of the Marvel Moms, an online community for discussing the Marvel fandom. You can catch up on her runDisney fun at No-Guilt Disney.